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The Record for World's Largest Meatball now lives in Columbus, Ohio!

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The Columbus Italian Club (CIC) is pleased to announce that the gigantic, 1,100-pound meatball created at the Columbus Italian Festival in October has been officially certified by Guinness World Records as the “World’s Largest Meatball.”

The final weight of the massive meatball came rolling in at a staggering 1,110.5 pounds. Several onsite official witnesses at the Columbus Italian Festival verified the meatball, which took almost three days to cook, on Oct. 8, 2011.

A 250-page “meatball report” – complete with eyewitness accounts, photos, data and news stories – was submitted to Guinness last week, and CIC members got word on Nov. 16 that the World’s Largest Meatball title was finally theirs.

“The real winners of our success will be the recipients of our scholarship fund,” said Chris Beardman, World’s Largest Meatball Attempt Chairman and CIC Past President.

The meatball attempt was conducted by the CIC for the benefit of their 501(c)3 Education Assistance Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to Columbus-area students. Approximately $10,000 was raised for the fund from the meatball event, according to the CIC.

A German group held the prior world record of 749.5 pounds. They set the record by ultimately cooking the meat in a flat-like vessel. The CIC used a rounded vessel, which was housed in a handcrafted oven made of stainless steel, and included faux bricks, stucco and a viewing window.

The CIC attained the World’s Largest Meatball record on Columbus Day Weekend - the holiday named after Christopher Columbus, for whom Ohio’s capital city is named. And to sweeten the pot even more, the starting weight of the raw meatball was 1,492 pounds.

The St. John’s Columbus Italian Festival was ecstatic with the overwhelming support and the excitement this has generated in the Columbus community along with record attendance for their annual event.

As with many World Records, as quickly as they are broken, so too are they broken again. But after breaking the previous record by more than 350 pounds, the CIC is confident their record will last a long time.

To anyone looking to dethrone the current meatball champs, Beardman stated, ”Good luck.”

The Columbus Italian Club (CIC) is pleased to announce that their attempt to break the record for World’s Largest Meatball was a smashing success!

The final weight of the massive meatball came rolling in at a staggering 1110.5 pounds. The meatball, which took almost three days to cook, was verified by several onsite official witnesses at the Columbus Italian Festival on October 8, 2011.

“The real winners of our success will be the recipients of our scholarship fund,” stated Chris Beardman, World’s Largest Meatball Attempt Chairman and CIC Past President. “We cannot thank our sponsors enough who have pledged their support to this event and ultimately our deserving students.”

A German group who set the record by ultimately cooking the meat in a flat-like vessel held the prior world record of 749.5 pounds. The CIC used a rounded vessel, which was housed in a handcrafted oven made of stainless steel, and included faux bricks, stucco, and a viewing window.

The CIC attained the World’s Largest Meatball record on Columbus Day Weekend – the holiday named after Christopher Columbus, for whom Ohio’s capital city is named. And to sweeten the pot even more, the starting weight of the raw meatball was 1,492 pounds.

“When Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492, he had no idea how significant that number would be to the Columbus Italian Club and their World’s Largest Meatball Record,” said Beardman. “We’re proud to have achieved this record for our members, our city, and our scholarship recipients.”

The St. John’s Columbus Italian Festival is ecstatic with the overwhelming support and the excitement this has generated in the Columbus community along with record attendance for their annual event.

Patrons clamored around the meatball and oven that were on display for viewing and picture taking during the three-day festival. Next, the CIC will be gathering all documentation, photos, and video evidence to send to Guinness World Records for official certification. All proceeds benefit the Columbus Italian Club’s 501(c)3 Education Assistance Scholarship Fund.

The gigantic, custom-built oven is ready. The truckload of meat has been ordered. Dozens of Italian volunteers are set. The Columbus Italian Club (CIC) is pleased to announce that on October 7-9, 2011 at the St. John’s Italian Festival in Italian Village, it will attempt to break the Guinness record for the world’s largest meatball.

If that sounds familiar to you, it should. The 2010 Columbus Italian Festival, which boasted record attendance, was highlighted by the CIC’s quest to break the Guinness World Record for World’s Largest Meatball. Ultimately, the event accomplished its goal of raising money for the CIC Scholarship Fund and also shattered the North American Record of 327 pounds, but alas, they were shy of the world mark by just 94 pounds weighing in at a whopping 655.5 pounds.

The current world record of 749.5 pounds remains in the possession of a German group that broke the record by ultimately cooking the meat in a flat-like vessel.

“Basically, the Germans made a burger but still hold the record for World’s Largest Meatball,” said World’s Largest Meatball spokesman Chris Beardman. “Where I grew up, we knew the difference between a burger and meatball. This attempt will restore order and objectivity to the meatball record and ultimately be one step closer to achieving world peace.”

This year, the CIC aims to smash the German burger and bring the record to Columbus with a meatball that will tip the scales at a whopping 1,000 pounds.

Beardman eagerly awaits the opportunity to unveil their massive ball of meat and secure a spot in the record books. “Rome wasn’t built in a day. Neither is the World’s Largest Meatball. Despite coming up a bit short last year, we were happy to attain the North American Record while generating funds for our scholarship and raising the profile of the Italian Festival,” explained Beardman. “Like a fine wine, we get better with age. This is the year.”

Proceeds from this year’s attempt will benefit the Columbus Italian Club’s Education Assistance Scholarship Program, which awards scholarships to deserving Central Ohio high school students of Italian descent. To date, the scholarship program has awarded over $200,000 to more than 150 students in the Columbus community.

Ingredients for last year’s 650 pound-plus mountain of meat included 1,100 pounds of ground sirloin, onion, and dried spices. The World’s Largest Meatball chef Rismo Gualtieri has adjusted his secret recipe and is confident that this year’s mix will bring home the title.

“It’s gonna be a big, spicy meatball!” said Gualtieri.

CIC members are a diverse set of professionals from all over Central Ohio, and like last year, they have lent their talents and devoted hundreds of hours in preparation for this event.

“All in all, this is going to be a great event. We’ll raise some money to help kids with college, boost awareness of the St. John’s Italian Festival, and bring the title of World’s Largest Meatball to the hardworking men of the Columbus Italian Club,” said Beardman. “No burger patty from Germany will hold the World’s Largest Meatball record on my watch.”

The decision of whether the world record has been achieved will be announced on Saturday, October 8, when the center of the meatball reaches 160 degrees. For the latest updates on the world record attempt, visit CICmeatball.com, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @CIC_Meatball and #meatball2011.

At the festival, the CIC will be selling t-shirts and samples of the World’s Largest Meatball recipe at the CIC booth next to the meatball located near Café Del Mondo at the entrance to the festival just off 4th Street. All proceeds will go to the CIC Education Assistance Program.

About the CIC

The Columbus Italian Club is a fraternal organization that was founded in 1978 to promote and preserve Italian culture and heritage in the Italian-American community. With more than 300 members, it encourages fellowship and networking through celebration of Italian heritage.

The Columbus Italian Club Education Assistance Corporation is a nonprofit entity that assists Columbus area students in furthering their educational endeavors. Visit www.columbusitalianclub.org for more information.

Sure, the Columbus Italian Club is focused on breaking the world’s record for largest meatball at the Columbus Italian Festival Oct. 7-9 at St. John’s the Baptist Catholic Church.

But you got to look good doing it, too.

With that said, the CIC will once again be selling these T-shirts at the festival for $20:

These were popular items last year, thanks, in part, to the amazing logo on the back of the shirt. It is white, so we don’t recommend you wearing it if you also purchase the following item.

For $5, you’ll be able to taste the meatball. Using Chef Rismo’s recipe, three large meatballs will be served inside the 14-ounce cup. Eat the balls. Save the cup. Avoid the red sauce on your new T-shirt. Sounds simple enough.

Sales for the T-shirts and meatballs in a cup will occur during the Italian Festival. The CIC’s booth will be located next to the actual meatball, which will be on display near Cafe Del Mundo by the entrance to the festival off 4th Street.

The Columbus Italian Club extends its utmost thanks to Domenic Palleschi at General Graphics for providing the T-shirts and cups.

Columbus Italian Club member Gus Flichia (right) shows off the banner promoting the club's second attempt at cooking the world's largest meatball. The banner is hanging near the site of where the CIC will attempt to break the world record, Cafe Del Mondo in downtown Columbus, Ohio, at the site of the Columbus Italian Festival, Oct. 7-9, 2011.

We are less than a month away from the 2011 Columbus Italian Festival and the Columbus Italian Club’s second attempt at breaking the world record for the largest meatball.

Members are diligently working on recipes, constructing the cooking vessel and raising money.

When it comes to where the ball will be cooked, that location has been claimed. Once again, the meatball will be cooked and weighed outside Cafe Del Mondo, which is located 659 North Fourth Street Street in Columbus, during the Columbus Italian Festival, Oct. 7-9.

On Sept. 13, CIC members Rick Willimott and Gus Flichia trimmed down foliage near the fence line in order to display its “Common Soon” banner.

We’re getting close people. The word is getting out. We can almost taste the world record.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – On Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011, many central Ohioans witnessed buildings swaying and felt the ground shaking. Naturally, Columbus residents wanted answers. Was it aftershock from an earthquake in Virginia? Was it a rumble from the downtown Hilton construction? Could it have been Terrelle Pryor throwing a celebratory bash after finding out NFL’s Oakland Raiders actually drafted him to be their new owner? Or was the Columbus Italian Club (CIC) testing a half-ton meatball in preparation for their World’s Largest Meatball attempt in October?

All day, members of our marketing, planning, and sponsorship committees have been fielding phone calls addressing the many rumors. Let us start by officially saying that we can neither confirm nor deny the following gossip:

1. Chef Rismo Gualtieri added vinegar and baking soda to the adjusted recipe he has been tinkering with to take home the Guinness World Record;

2. David Letterman was in Columbus to drop a half-ton test meatball from the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower as a durability assessment;

4. In an attempt to demonstrate proper gang tackling methods, Ohio State Buckeyes Coach Luke Fickell and new Linebackers Coach Mike Vrabel sandwiched the CIC meatball oven, at which point it spontaneously combusted from the immense force and pressure;

As a shocked city searches for answers, the men of the CIC are disappointed that the shadow of doubt has been cast upon their noble attempt at raising money for scholarships, attracting visitors to the Columbus Italian Festival, and attaining global meatball glory.

“We just wish we could go about our business in peace,” Meatball Marketing Coordinator Rick Willimott said. “We have nothing but our great community in mind.”

The CIC asks for privacy in these troubled times as they work to repair their reputation and break the German meatball record of 749.5 pounds. Those interested in learning more about their quest for infamy can visit www.cicmeatball.com.

Columbus Italian Club (Again)
Attempts World’s Largest Meatball

Last year, World’s Largest Meatball Chairman Chris Beardman uses a forklift to weigh what would be the largest ever meatball in North America at 655.5 pounds.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Italian Club (CIC) will try for the second time to break the record for World’s Largest Meatball on Oct. 7-9 at the St. John’s Italian Festival in Italian Village.

“Despite coming up 94 pounds short to beat the world record last year, we attained the North American Record of 655.5 pounds and raised money for our scholarship fund,” said Chris Beardman, World’s Largest Meatball Chairman and CIC past President. “But this is going to be our year.”

A German organization holds the current world record of 749.5 pounds. The men of CIC vowed not to surrender without a fight, so this year they aim to shatter the record with a 1,000-pound ball of meat. Ingredients of CIC’s meatball will include 1,700 pounds of ground sirloin, onion, and dried spices, and chef Rismo Gualtieri adjusted his secret recipe to maximize his chance of winning.

Proceeds from last year’s attempt benefited the Columbus Italian Club’s Education Assistance Scholarship Program, which awards scholarships to deserving Central Ohio high school students of Italian descent. To date, the scholarship program has awarded nearly $200,000 to more than 150 Columbus area students.

CIC members will devote hundreds of hours in preparation for this event. A test run using the new recipe and cooking method will take place in late summer. The decision of whether the world record has been achieved will be announced on the night of Oct. 8, when the center of the meatball reaches 160 degrees.

For more information, please visit cicmeatball.com and columbusitalianfestival.com.

About The Columbus Italian Club

The Columbus Italian Club is a fraternal organization that was founded in 1978 to promote and preserve Italian culture and heritage in the Italian-American community. With more than 260 members, it encourages fellowship and networking through celebration of Italian heritage. The Columbus Italian Club Education Assistance Corporation is a nonprofit entity that assists Columbus area students in furthering their educational endeavors. Visit columbusitalianclub.org for more information.

The Columbus Italian Club marched in the 28th annual Doo Dah Parade to announce its attempt at cooking a world's record 1,000-pound meatball this October.

The Meatball Guys — also known as the Columbus Italian Club — participated in the 28th annual Doo Dah Parade on July 4.

(Photos from the event are below.)

On the Fourth of July, members of the CIC walked the parade route through Columbus’ Short North along side our meatball-making oven. The crowd support was great. People lined the parade route and cheered us on. At the site of the oven, many remembered us from our world’s record attempt last year.

The CIC decided to participate in the Doo Dah Parade as a way to announce that we are once again attempting break the world’s record and cook a 1,000-pound meatball at the Columbus Italian Festival on Oct. 7-9 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.

We had a blast in the Doo Dah Parade and we hope those who cheered us on will do so again this October. Until then, we have plenty of things planned and work to do. To keep up-to-date with the latest goings on, follow us on Facebook, on Twitter and here at CICMeatball.com.

And the answer to the obvious questions is, “Yes, Miss Meatball is available for parties.”

Note: Miss Meat’s real name was redacted to protect the guilty.

Miss Meatball finds a willing suitor, Fred Muccio, before the start of the Doo Dah Parade on July 4, 2011.

A few fellas from the CIC picked up the oven at the club's headquarters in Grandview the morning of the Doo Dah Parade.

The CIC had plenty of banners on display, including the fan-favorite, "We've got the biggest balls!"

Of course the star of the show was the one-of-a-kind cooking vessel the CIC used last year. It will need to be modified this year for the 1,000-pound meatball.

The CIC "float" heads down High St. in the final stretch of the 28th annual Doo Dah Parade on July 4, 2011 in Columbus, Ohio.

Members of the Columbus Italian Club (CIC) will be marching in the 28th annual 2011 Doo Dah Parade at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 4, in downtown Columbus.

Why?

‘Cause we can!

Once again, the CIC will attempt to cook the world’s largest meatball at the Columbus Italian Festival on Oct. 7-9 at St. John’s the Baptist Catholic Church. Last fall, the CIC shattered the North American record of 327 pounds by cooking a 655.5-pound meatball during the Italian Festival.

The CIC is using Columbus’ historic Doo Dah Parade as an official starting point. We are back and we are bigger!

The CIC aims to bring the world’s record to Columbus this year with a 1,000-pound meatball.

Yes, we are an Italian Club, but we are also Americans. Guess who holds the world’s record for the biggest meatball? A German group! Yeah. We know. Also, they broke the record (749.5 pounds) by ultimately cooking the meat in a flat-like vessel. Cheaters! That ain’t no ball.

The Columbus Italian Club had a custom built oven to cook out North American record 655.5-pound meatball on Oct. 8, 2010.

The oven (pictured, right) that helped us cook the North American record-setting ball will be featured at the parade. Stop by on the Fourth of July to show the CIC and your country your support!

Come support us at the FREE Doo Dah Parade!

Here are some dos and donts:

Do:

Bring a chair or blanket

Bring an umbrella

Bring sunscreen

Bring a positive, fun and ready-to-party personality.

Don’t:

Bring water guns, balloons or pets

Run up to moving cars in the parade

Park somewhere that you can get a ticket

Handy, dandy doo dah tip:

There is no one from Doo Dah going around “collecting money for Doo Dah.”

The Columbus Italian Club is a fraternal organization that was founded in 1978 to promote and preserve Italian culture and heritage in the Italian-American community. With more than 260 members, it encourages fellowship and networking through celebration of Italian heritage.

COLUMBUS (October 8th, 2010) - The Columbus Italian Club (CIC) announced that today their attempt to break the world largest meatball fell short by only 94 pounds.

The final weight of the massive meatball came rolling in at a staggering 655.5 pounds. The meatball, which took almost two days to cook, was verified by several onsite official witnesses. “While we fell a little short, we didn’t fall short in raising essential donations for our scholarship fund, stated Chris Beardman, Record Attempt Chairman and CIC past President. “We cannot thank our sponsors enough who have pledged their support to us and our deserving students. We are proud to, at least, give them the North American record for the largest meatball and, who knows, we may be back sooner than you think.”

The current North American record is 327 pounds held by Glen Oaks Community College in Michigan, and by all accounts the CIC shattered that record. The world record is held by a German group who broke the record by ultimately cooking the meat in a flat-like vessel. The CIC attempt used a rounded vessel, which was housed in hand-crafted oven made of stainless steel, and included faux bricks and a viewing window. The St. John’s Columbus Italian Festival is ecstatic with the overwhelming support and the excitement this has generated in the Columbus community.

Patrons who are clamoring around the North American record will be pleased to know that they will have their chance to be part of history. Planned events such as Meatball Tattoos, Face Painting, and opportunity to get your photo with the enormous meatball will be available. T-shirts commemorating the achievement will also be available. All proceeds benefit the 501(c)(3) Education Assistance Scholarship Fund.

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About the CIC

The Columbus Italian Club (CIC) is a fraternal organization whose mission is to promote and preserve Italian culture and heritage in the Italian-American community. CIC works closely with the Columbus Italian Club Education Assistance Corp., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable entity that assists students in furthering their educational endeavors.